Sam Newman's ex in court drug claim

THE ex-lover of AFL great Sam Newman was allegedly exposed to "excessive drug use" during their relationship, a court has heard.

The ex-lover of AFL Footy Show host Sam Newman was allegedly exposed to "excessive drug use and drug abuse", including cocaine and ecstasy, during her relationship with the controversial former football great.

A Melbourne court has been told today that the one-time Sydney interior designer Louisa Larkin, 37 , became addicted to cocaine and developed a cocaine-induced psychosis so severe it landed her in hospital, following her relationship with Newman. 

Larkin pleaded guilty in the Melbourne Magistrates Court this morning to defrauding Newman of $93,000. 

Larkin - who carried out interior design work for the former Geelong great after meeting him 1999 - admitted to falsifying cheques given to her by Newman.

Her barrister, Paul Holdenson QC, told the court the offences were committed "out of frustration and anger".

Newman owed his former girlfriend money, the court heard, and their relationship broke down in the environment of "drug use and abuse".

Psychologist Jeffrey Cummins told the hearing that Larkin was a sporadic drug user before she became involved with Newman.

"As a result of being in that relationship she was exposed to excessive drug use and drug abuse ... she became addicted to cocaine," Dr Cummins said.

Contacted this evening, Mr Newman said he wished Ms Larkin well, but had no response to the suggestion that his former girlfriend was introduced to a culture of heavy drug use during what she says was a four-year relationship in which they sometimes lived together.

"I would not dignify this with a response," Mr Newman said.

In a statement tendered to the court today, the former footballer said that from his perspective, his relationship with Ms Larkin was "brief and uncomplicated to the point where it was at best physical. 

"I  subsequently learned that she may have had a different perspective on this, judging by the sizeable bundle of press clippings she delivered on me on one of her visits," the statement said.

Ms Larkin was convicted this afternoon of six charges of obtaining property by deception between July 2003 and August 2004. She was fined $25,000 and ordered to pay $25,000 to the ANZ Bank, and $$41,600 to Westpac.